RTW 2022

Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen. A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria.
Acts 8:1

Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
Acts 7:54-55 (ESV)

• Acts of the Apostles…and others as prompted and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
• Acts 1: Ascension and Great Commission.
• Acts 2: Holy Spirit comes, and the church is born!
• The Church grows through testing.
• Acts 3: Gate Beautiful
• Acts 4: Council
• Acts 5: Ananias and Sapphira
• Acts 6: Deacons
• Acts 7: Stephen
• Acts 8:1 is the hinge verse that opens the door for the spread of the gospel.
• Acts 8:1 is the mirror image of Acts 1:8.
• Acts 8:1 begins to answer Jesus’ commission of Acts 1:8.
• The church would not obey God’s directive will of Acts 1:8, so His permissive will allows Acts 8:1.
• The gospel is moving from Jerusalem to Judea….through persecution.
• The gospel will move to the ends of the earth.
• Acts 11:19

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Prepare for persecution…don’t be surprised by it!